MEDIARELEASE
Tuesday,31January,2017
LAUNCHVICUNVEILS$4.9MTOBOOSTVICTORIA’SSTARTUPSECTOR
LaunchVichastodayannounceda$4.9millionboostforVictoria’sboomingstartupsectorwithRound2funding.
MinisterforSmallBusiness,InnovationandTradePhilipDalidakisjoinedLaunchVicChairAhmedFahourandCEO
DrKateCornicktodaytoannouncesevenprojectsthatwillhelpsupportVictoria’sbestentrepreneursandhighgrowthbusinesses.
TheRound2projectsincludeinitiativesthatwillincreasethescale,accessibilityanddiversityofVictoria’sstartup
sectoracrossanumberofindustriesincludinghealth,educationandtechnology.
StartupsinVictoria’sregionsarealsobigwinnersthisround,withgloballyrecognisedAustralianoutfitsStartmate
and Girl Geek Academy running regional roadshows and bootcamps across regional cities including Geelong,
Shepparton,Albury/Wodonga,Ballarat,theLaTrobeValley,Bendigo,WarrnamboolandWarragul.
All grants in this funding round are matched with cash and in-kind investments that will result in a total
investmentof$11.6millionforVictoria’sstartupsector.Moreinformationonthegrantrecipientscanbefoundat
www.launchvic.org.
Today’s announcement focuses on Round 2 recipients that are each receiving up to $1 million in funding.
LaunchVicwillunveillargerprojectsthatwillreceivemorethan$1millioninthecomingweeks.
QuotesattributabletoMinisterforSmallBusiness,InnovationandTradePhilipDalidakis
"The calibre of programs funded through LaunchVic is a great example of why Victoria is fast becoming the
locationofchoiceforstartupsandtechbusinessinvestmentacrosstheAsiaPacific."
“Thesearetheprogramsthatwillhelpyoungcompaniesandideasdeveloptocreatejobsandindustriesthatwill
supportourstatefordecadestocome.”
QuotesattributabletoLaunchVicCEOKateCornick
“LaunchVicissupportingnewopportunitiestoboostVictoria’sreputationasaglobaldestinationforstartups.We
areexcitedtounveilevenmoreground-breakingprojectsinthecomingweeks,whichwillhighlightthegrowing
internationalattentionthatVictoriaistheplacetobetogrowfuturebusiness.”
“LaunchVicworkstogetherwiththeentrepreneurialsectortodrivesolutionsthatwilltransitionstartupstofuture
businesses. We will invest and partner in ideas, expertise and infrastructure to grow Victoria’s thriving startup
ecosystem.”
FulllistofLaunchVicRound2grantrecipients(lessthan$1million):
●
Startmatewillrunanexclusivetwo-yearVictorianprogramtoaccelerate16startupsincludinganannual
regionaltourtoconnectentrepreneurswithitsleadingAustraliannetwork.
●
GirlGeekAcademywillpresent#SheHacksVictoria-thefirststate-widehackathonexclusivelyforgirls.
●
ACMIwillextenditsco-workingspace,ACMIX,intoacreativetechlaboratory.
●
Outcome.Life will run a range of collaborative industry programs and internships to attract and retain
internationalstudentgraduatestartupsinVictoria.
●
Seeva will develop an innovation hub and incubator that supports startups and entrepreneurs to drive
changewithinthedisabilityandhealthsectors.
●
FrankstonFoundrywillgrowaregionalinnovationhubthatwillprovideaconduitbetweenMelbourne’s
startupecosystemandthestate’ssouthernregions.
●
Education Changemakers will facilitate education startup clusters through its Edupreneurs program, a
three-dayeventandregionalroadshow.